Hand brake mechanism



June 26, 1962 F. E. BRETZ, JR 3,040,597

HAND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flan/6[if/29?, J7

June 26, 1962 F. E. BRETZ, JR 3,040,597

I HAND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1962F. E. BRETZ, JR 3,040,597

HAND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 u rm WARM-$747 #5 IN V EN TOR.

Trim/L 157576;}, 'J,

June 1962 F. E. BRETZ, JR

HAND BRAKE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9, 1960 INVHV TOR.

June 26, 1962 F. E. BRETZ, JR 3,040,597

HAND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United StatesPatent 3,040,597 HAND BRAKE MECHANISM Frank E. Bretz, Jr., Elmhurst,Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pentron ElectronicsCorporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois I Filed May 9,1960, Ser. No. 27,804 12 Claims. (Cl. 74-505) This invention relates,generally, to hand brake mechanisms for railway cars and it hasparticular relation to such mechanisms which usually are mounted nearthe top of a railway car such as a house car or other railway car. Itconstitutes an improvement over the invention disclosed in US. PatentNo. 2,905,292, issued September 22, 1959.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for simply andefliciently releasing the brakes on a railway car that have been set bya hand brake mechanism, such as a mechanism of the type shown in theabove identified patent; to set the-brakes by rotation of a hand wheelon the hand brake mechanism employing a friction clutch of the abovepatent and to release the brakes without requiring reverse rotation ofthe hand wheel; to prevent accidental release of the brakes once theyhave been set; to provide for selectively releasing the set brakeseither from the top of therailway car or from the ground; to provide forreleasing the set brakes from either side of the car by a brake man onthe ground; and to arrange the brake release mechanisms to operateindependently of each other.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in partappear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of thisinvention reference can be had to the following detailed description,taken together with the accompanying drawings in, which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a hand brake mechanism inwhich the present invention is embodied, the upper portion of the handwheel being broken away in, order to show more clearly the trip leversmounted behind it;

FIGURE 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the hand brake mechanism asshown in FIGURE 1, the hand wheel being omitted and the cover for thecase being broken away in order to show the interior details ofconstruction;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken generally along the line3-3 of FIGURE 1, the trip bar means being omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional'view taken generally along the line4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 55of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 66of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a view, in front elevation, of the flange which is splinedon the pinion;

FIGURE 8 is a View, in rear elevation, of the pressure nut which isprovided with slots for receiving lugs extending forwardly on the flangeshown in FIGURE 7;

3,040,597 Patented June 26, 1962 "Ice FIGURE 9 is a plan view of thetrip bar means employed for moving the flange shown in FIGURE 7laterally into and out of engagement with the pressure not shown inFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the trip cam means used to operate the tripbar means shown in FIGURE 9 and to hold the flange shown in FIGURE 7 inoperative engagement with the pressure nut shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a view, in end elevation, of the trip cam means shown inFIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of the first trip lever which ismounted on one end of the trip cam means as shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line1313 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical elevational view of a second trip lever;

FIGURE 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line1515 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a vertical elevational view of a retaining ring which ismounted on one end of the trip cam means shown in FIGURE 10 and servesto rotatably mount the second trip lever shown in FIGURE 14 and tocooperate with the first trip lever shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 17 is a vertical sectional view taken generall along the line1717 of FIGURE 16-;

FIGURE 18 is an end elevational view of a portion of one end of arailway car, such as a house car, on which the hand brake mechanism ofthe present invention is mounted near the top;

FIGURE 19 is a view, in vertical side elevation, of the constructionshown in FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a top plan view, certain parts being broken away, of theportion of the brake release mechanism that is mounted at the couplerlevel near the bottom of the railway car arranged to permit selectiveoperation of the hand brake mechanism from either side of the car; I

and v FIGURE 21 is a View, in vertical elevation, certain parts beingbroken away, of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 20.

The present invention employs many of the parts shown in the aboveidentified patent. Accordingly, where the various elements are generallythesame, the same reference characters and nomenclature are employedherein.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that the referencecharacter 10 designates, generally, a hand brake mechanism which, asshown in FIGURES 18 and 19 of the drawings, is intended for mounting ona railway car near the top thereof. The particular location on the carconstruction can be varied as is readily understood. The hand brakemechanism 10 includes a case, shown generally at 11, that is made up ofa metallic cover 12 provided with an out turned flange 13 for overlyinga back plate 14 to which it is suitably secured.

The hand brake mechanism 10 is intended for manual application of brakesof the railway car. It is used principally for holding the car in agiven position on a siding v or to control the speed of and to stop acar at a given mounted on a shaft 18 which is carried by the cover 12and the back plate 14. As pointed out in the patent above referred to,it is undesirable to wind the chain 15 on the chain winding drum 17 byrotation thereof in a clockwise direction. In order to prevent this, thechain winding drum 17 is provided with an arm 19 WhICh CZIUSBS a secondlink 20 of the chain 15 to engage a chain stop 21 which extends inwardlyfrom the case 11.

The other or lower end of the chain 15 is connected to the upper end ofa rod link 22 which, as shown in FIGURES l8 and 19 and describedhereinafter, is connected to the brake rigging for applying the brakes.

The chain winding drum 17 is rotated by a main gear wheel 23. Preferablythe main gear wheel 23 is formed integrally with the chain winding drum17 as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The teeth onthe periphery of the main gear wheel 23 are indriving engagement withthe teeth of a pinion 24 which is freely rotatably mounted on a reduceddiameter section 25 of a hand wheel shaft which is indicated, generally,at 26 At its left end the hand wheel shaft 26 is provided with a splitring 27 which is positioned in an annular groove 28 and held in placetherein by .a retainer ring 29 which has a press fit with the extremeleft end of the shaft 26. The retainer ring 29' is journaled in abushing 30 which is carried by a rear bearing 31 which is mounted in theback plate 14 as shown.

The right end of the hand wheel shaft 26 is provided with a bearingportion 32 which is journaled in a bushing 33 that is carried by a frontbearing 34 suitably stationarily mounted in the cover 12.

Although the pinion 24 is freely rotatably mounted on the hand wheelshaft 26, provision is made for placing it in driving connection withthe hand wheel shaft 26 in order to rotate the main gear wheel 23 .andwind the chain 15 on the chain winding drum 17. For this purpose aradially extending flange 35 is provided the details of construction ofwhich are shown more clearly in FIG- URE 7. It will be observed thatradially extending flange 35 has radially inwardly extending gear teeth36 which are arranged to mesh with radially outwardly extending gearteeth 37 on the pinion 24. Thus the radially extending flange 35 issplined on the pinion 24 and, while it is rotatable conjointlytherewith, it is movable laterally therealong. In the patent abovereferred to the pinion corresponding to the pinion 24 is provided with aflange integral therewith which corresponds to the radially extendingflange 35 of the present invention. As will appear hereinafter, bymounting the radially extending flange 35 on the pinion 2.4 in themanner described, it is possible to quickly disengage the connection tothe hand wheel shaft 26 and release the brakes quickly.

In order to place the radially extending flange 35 which is splined onthe pinion 24 in driving engagement with the hand wheel shaft 26 lugs38, preferably six in number, are formed integrally with the radiallyextending flange 35 as shown in FIGURE 7. The lugs 38 project radiallyinto slots 39 which are formed in a juxtaposed face 40 of a pressure nut41 the details of construction of which are shown more clearly in FIGURE8 of the drawings. The pressure nut 41 is internally threaded onto anenlarged externally threaded section 42 of the hand wheel. shaft 26'. Aslong as the radially extending flange 35 remains in the position shownin FIGURE 3, with the lugs 38 in engagement with the slots 39, theflange 35 and the pinion 24 rotate conjointly with the pressure nut 41.

Formed integrally with the hand wheel shaft 26 at the right end of thethreaded section 42 is a radially out wardly extending brake flange 43.Disposed between the brake flange 43 and the radially extending flange35 is a ratchet wheel 44 which also forms a brake plate. The ratchetWheel 44 has an internal bushing 45 for rotatable mounting on a hub 46that extends laterally from and is formed integrally with the pressurenut 41. It will be understood that the ratchet wheel 44 can rotaterelative to the hub 46. It constitutes a driving connection between thebrake flange 43, integral with the hand wheel shaft 26, and the pressurenut 41 which, it will be recalled, rotates conjointly with the radiallyextending flange 35 as long as the driving engagement therebetweenprovided by the lugs 38 is maintained. The driving connection with theratchet wheel 44 is provided by applying a compression force to oppositesides thereof in a manner that now will be described.

A part of the driving connection is provided through a non-metallicfriction disc 47 which may be formed of a phenolic condensation product.The disc 47 is interposed between a brake face 48 on one side of thepressure nut 41 and a brake face 49 on the juxtaposed side of theratchet wheel 44. Another non-metallic friction disc 54 or likematerial, is provided on the other side of the ratchet wheel 44. It ispositioned between a brake face 51 on the left side of the brake flange43 and a brake face 52 on the right side of the ratchet wheel 44. As thehand wheel shaft 26 is rotated, the pressure nut 41 is tightened on theenlarged externally threaded section 42 so as to grip the ratchet wheel44 between it and the brake flange 43. A driving connection between thehand wheel shaft 26 and the radially extending flange 35 and therewith-to the pinion 24 is provided.

At the right end of the shaft 26 is a hand wheel receiving section 55 onwhich a hand wheel 56 is non-rotatably mounted. It is held in positionby a nut 57 and a cotter pin 58, as shown.

In order to hold the brakes in the set position it is necessary thatmeans he provided for preventing reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel44. For this purpose its periphery is provided with ratchet teeth 59with which a pawl 60 cooperates. As shown in FIGURE 2 the pawl 60 isrockably mounted at 61 on the back plate 14. It is biased by gravity andby a spring 62 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 59.

As pointed out in the patent above referred to it is undesirable thatthe chain winding drum 17 be rotated in a reverse direction to wind upthe chain 15 thereon. In the event that this should take place, vtherotation of the main gear wheel 23 in the reverse direction will bearrested as soon as the second 'link 20 engages the chain stop 21.However, if the brake man inadvertently continues to rotate the handwheel 56 in the wrong direction, he would cause the pressure nut 41 tomove away from the clutch flange 43.

In view of the small lead of the threads on the threaded section 42, asubstantial force could be developed which might result in damage to thehand brake mechanism 10. With a view to preventing such improperoperation the hub 46 of the pressure nut 41 is provided with an arcuateslot 63, FIGURE 3 and more completely described in the patent abovereferred to, for receiving a stop pin 64 which is carried by the clutchflange 43. The stop pin 64 limits the relative rotation between the handwheel shaft 26 and the pressure nut 41 to the extent permitted by thearcuate slot 63. Should the brake man rotate the hand wheel 56 in therelease direcion, as indicated by the arrow 65, FIGURE 1, to such anextent that the arm 19 picks up the second link 20 and causes it toengage the chain stop 21, the main gear wheel 23 is arrested andlikewise further rotation of the pin 24 is prevented. Since the pressurenu-t 41 rotates conjointly with the pinion 24 as long as the radiallyextending flange 35 is maintained in driving engagement through the lugs'38 with the pressure nut 41, the hand wheel shaft 26 can only rotaterelative thereto through an extent determined by the movement of thestop pin 64 to the respective end of the arcuate slot 63. No furtherrotation of the hand wheel 56 in the release direction then ispermitted. By limiting the relative movement between the hand wheelshaft 26 and the pressure nut 41, there is no likelihood of damage tothe mechanism under the conditions above outlined.

Except for the splined mounting of the radially extending flange 35 onthe pinion 24, the construction of the spa es? hand brake mechanism isessentially the same as set forth in the patent above referred to andthe functioning is essentially the same. I

In operation, assuming that the radially extending flange 35 is indriving engagement with the pressure nut 41, when it is desired to applythe brakes, the hand wheel 56 is rotated in the direction indicated bythe arrow 66, FIGURE 1. Since there will be some tension applied to thechain 15, there will be some resistance to rotation by the pinion 24 andthe pressure nut 41. The rotation of the hand wheel 56 and shaft 26against this tension will cause the pressure nut 41 to rotate slightlyalong the threaded section 42 and to clamp the ratchet wheel 44 betweenit and the brake flange 43. The driving connectiomprevionsly described,is maintained and, asthe ratchet wheel 44 is rotated, the pawl 6i?cooper-ates with the ratchet teeth 59 thereon to prevent reverse rotation. The tension on the chain tends to maintain the drivingconnection and to grip securely the ratchet wheel 44 in the drivingposition. Regardless of the amount of vibration to which the car and thehand brake mechanism may be subjected, there is no likelihood that thedriving connection will be impaired.

When it is desired to release the brakes, the hand wheel 56 is rotatedin the direction indicated by the arrow 65, FIGURE 1. Such rotationtends to cause the pressure nut 41 to back away slightly from theratchet wheel 44 while it is held against rotation by the pawl 6h. Thepressure nut 41 and the pinion 24 then rotate in a brake releasingdirection together with the hand wheel shaft 26 and hand wheel 56 aslong as sufficient torque is applied to the latter to relieve thepressure applied to the opposite sides of the ratchet wheel 44sufficiently to permit slippage between it and the brake flange 43 onthe one hand and the pressure nut 41 on the other.

It remains to describe the modification of the hand brake mechanism 10for quickly releasing the set brakes by moving the radially extendingflange 35 away from driving engagement with the pressure nut 41. Whenthis movement has taken place, the pinion 24 is free to rotate togetherwith the radially extending flange 35 with the result that the main gearwheel 23 can rotate rapidly to permit the chain 15 to unwind quicklyfrom the chain winding drum 17 and release the brakes without requiringthat the hand wheel 56. be rotated in the reverse directionindicated bythe arrow 65, FIGURE 1, which eration ordinarily would requireconsiderably greater time. Also, by completely freeing the pinion 24 forrotation, the brakes are fullyreleased. This may not be the case whenthe brakeman is required to rotate the hand wheel 56 in the releasedirection since he may not rotate it sufliciently far tocompletelyrelease the brakes. As a result there maybe some dragging ofthe brakes, if they are not completely released.

With a View to. moving the radially extending flange 35 rearwardly alongthe pinion 24 toward the back plate 14 trip bar means, shown generallyat 69 in FIGURES 2,. 4 and 6 of the drawings, are provided. FIGURE 9shows more'completely the details of construction of the trip bar means69. It will be observed that leftand right levers 7t) and 71 areprovided having outwardly extending trunnions 72 and: 73. As shown inFIGURES 2 and 6 of the drawings, the trunnions 72 and 73 are journaledin bearings 74 vand 75 which are carried by the side walls of the-case11. The levers 70 and 71 are provided, respectively, with jaws 76 and77. As shown bar 79.

gear wheel 23. This permits the chain 15 to be unwound The left andright levers 70 and 71 normally are urged to positions where theradially extending flange 35 is held in driving engagementwith thepressure nut 41 through the lugs 38. r This is accomplished by coilcompression springs 80, FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings,

which are guided by spring sockets '81 associated with the bearings 74and 75. It will be understoodv that the coil compression springs 89react between the back plate 14 and lever arms 82 and 83 of the left andright levers 70 and 71, respectively. I

In order to provide for rotating the left and right levers 7t) and 71,they are provided with lever arms 84 and 85, respectively, carryingflanges 86 and 87 which extend toward each other as shown more clearlyin FIGURE 9. Cooperating with the flange 87 is a cam arm 88 whichextends radially from a shaft'89 forming a part of trip cam means, showngenerally at 90 in FIGURES 10 and ll of the drawings. The trip cam means90, as shown in FIGURE 3, is journaled at its ends in the cover 12 andthe back plate 14 so that it rotates about an axis which is parallel tothe axis of rotation of the hand wheel shaft 25. When the shaft 89 ofthe trip cam means 9% is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIGURE 2, the cam arm 88 engages the flange 87 on the right lever 71 andcauses it to rotate together with the left lever 70 in counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 5, to compress the springs 80 and to movethe radially extending flange 35 toward the back plate 14 and disengagethe lugs 38 from the slots 39 in the pressure nut 4-1. When this takesplace, the radially extending flange 35 and pinion 24- are free torotate together with the main quickly from the chain winding drum 17 andcomplete release of the brakes.

It is desirable that some positive means be provided in addition to thebiasing action of the coil compression springs 8i) for controlling themovement of the radially extending flange 35 in a brake releasingdirection. For this purpose a safety arm 91, FIGURES 3, 6, l0 and 11,

is formed integrally with the shaft 89 of the trip carn means 90 and itnormally extends in overlying relation with respect to the radiallyextending flange 35. A flared end 92 on the safety arm 91 facilitatesmovement into the position shown in FIGURE 3, where the safety arm 91 ispositioned to prevent movement of the radially extending flange 35 outof driving connection with the pressure nut 41. The weight of the safetyarm 91 is suflicient to overbalance the weight of the cam arm 88 andthus the former is normally biased by gravity into the safety position.However, when the trip cam means 90 is rotated to move the cam arm 88into operative engagement with the flange 87 for operating the'tripbar-means 69, the safety arm 91 is moved out of the path of the radiallyextending flange 35 and it is permitted to move along the pinion 24 fordisengaging the lugs 38 from the slots 39 in the pressure nut 41. Y

In accordance with this invention provision is made for rotating thetrip cam means Wfrom a position adjacent the hand wheel 56. In additionprovision is made for rotating the trip. cam means 90' to the releaseposition more clearly in FIGURE 5 the jaws 76 are positioned from alocation below the position of the hand brake mechanism 10. As will beset forth hereinafter the brakes can be released from either side of thecar by a brake man on the ground. The release of the hand brake mechanism10 from any of these three positions is arranged and constructed sothat the operation at any point is independent of the operation from theother points. "This is an additional safety feature. i

The means for releasing the hand brake mechanism 10 by operation of thetrip cam means 90 at a position adjacent the hand wheel 56 now will bedescribed. It will be observed that the shaft 89 is provided with a hub94 that is journaled in the cover 12 and extends'therebeyond as shown inFIGURE 3 of the drawings. Journaled on the extending portion of the hub94 is a first trip lever 95 the details of construction of which areshown more clearly in FIGURES l2 and 13. It will be observed that thefirst trip lever 95 has a central bushing 96 to facilitate the rotatablemounting on the hub 94 although it will be understood that the relativerotation between the shaft 89 and the first trip lever 95 is slight.Extending laterally from the portion of the first trip lever 95 which ismounted on the hub 94 are lugs 97 which interfit with a slot 98 thatextends centrally across a retaining ring 99 which is shown in moredetail in FIGURES 16 and 17 of the drawings. The lugs 97 fit loosely inthe ends of transverse slot 98. The retaining ring 99 has a non-circularopening 100 which is arranged to interfit with a non-circular end 101 ofthe shaft 89. Thus, the retaining ring 99 rotates conjointly with thetrip cam means 90 and the first trip lever 95 is loosely connectedthereto but may be said to rotate conjointly therewith within the limitsof play between the lugs 97 and the sides of the transverse slot 98. Aswill appear hereinafter the first trip lever 95 is provided in order topermit release of the hand brake mechanism by a brake man on the ground.The retaining ring 99 is held in place on the outer end of the shaft 89by a screw 102, FIGURE 3.

In order to release the hand brake mechanism 10 from a location adjacentthe hand wheel 56, a second trip lever 103 is provided. Its location isshown in FIGURES l and 3 of the drawings and its details of constructionare shown more clearly in FIGURES l4 and 15. It will be observed thatthe second trip lever 103 includes a bearing portion 104 at one endhaving therein a bushing 105 for rotary mounting on the retaining ring99. A flange 106 on the retaining ring 99 serves to hold the bearingportion 104 of the second trip lever 103 in operative position since thebearing portion 104 is positioned between this flange 10s and the firsttrip lever 95. The bearing portion 104 of the second trip lever 103 hasa section 107 from which an arcuate portion has been cut away so as toprovide arcuate spaced shoulders 108 and 109. This construction permitsthe second trip lever 103 to rotate through a substantial distance withrespect to the first trip lever 95. Stated conversely it permitsrelative rotation of the first trip lever 95, when it is operatedremotely, with respect to the second trip lever 103 without effectingany movement of the latter while the hand brake mechanism 10 is beingtripped from the remote point. However, the shoulder '108 is arranged toengage a surface portion 110, FIG- URES 1 and 12 of the drawings, topick up the first trip lever 95 as the second trip lever 103 is swung ina clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, for releasing the handbrake mechanism 10 by a brake man standing adjacent the hand wheel 56.

When it is desired to release the hand brake mechanism 10 by operationof the second trip lever 103, it is rotated from the normal inoperativeposition shown in FIGURE 1 in a clockwise direction until the shoulder108 engages the surface portion 110 on the first trip lever 95.Thereafter, the two trip levers rotate together and effect rotation ofthe retaining ring 99 and thereby of the trip cam means 90. As a result,the safety arm 91 is moved out of the path of the radially extendingflange 35 and the cam arm 88 engages the flange 87 to rotate the triparm means 69 against the biasing action of the coil compression springs80. The result is that the lugs 38 are moved out of engagement with theslots 39 in the pressure nut '41 and the pinion 24 is'released forrotation together with the main gear wheel 23. The chain Winding drum 17then rotates to permit the chain to unwind therefrom and release thebrakes.

The provision for remote operation of the hand brake mechanism now willbe described, particularly with reference to FIGURES 18, 19, and 21 ofthe drawings.

' conventional manner the bell crank 114 is connected to the brakerigging to permit the brakes to be set manually by rotation of the handwheel 56 in the manner previously described. A platform 116 is providedon the car end 113 on which the brake man stands for rotating the handwheel 56 and also for operating the second trip lever 103, in the mannerpreviously described, to quickly release the brakes without requiringreverse rotation of the hand-wheel 56 to effect a gradual release.

As shown in FIGURES l and 12 of the drawings the first trip lever has anextension 117 which is apertured as indicated at 118. As shown in FIGURE18 a pin 119 extends through the aperture 118 for connecting a clevis120 thereto. A release link rod 121 extends from the clevis 120 toanother clevis 122 at its lower end where a pin 123 connects the same toa lever 124.

As shown more clearly in FIGURES 20 and 21 of the drawings, the lever124 is rotatable on a shaft 125 which extends between plates 126 and 127of a housing that is indicated, generally, at 128 that is located aboutat the coupler level of the railway car or at a point substantiallybelow the position of the hand brake mechanism 10 near the top of thecar end 113. The shaft 125 is welded, as indicated at 129, to the plate127. As hub 130 is joined to the lever 124 and rotates therewith on thestationary shaft 125. Surrounding the hub 130 is a coil spring 131 whichis anchored at 132 to the plate 127 and at 133 to the lever 124. Thecoil spring 131 acts in a direction to rotate the lever 124 in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 21. This acts to bias therelease link rod 121 upwardly to effect a corresponding biasing actionon the extension 117 of the first trip lever 85. Since the first triplever 95 operates through the retaining ring 99 on the trip cam means 9the latter normally is biased by the coil spring 131 in a direction tohold the safety arm 191 in the position shown in FIGURE 3 of thedrawings where it prevents movement of the radially extending flange 35out of driving engagement with the pressure nut 41. With a view toproviding for release of the hand brake mechanism 10 from the right sideof the railway car, as viewed in FIGURE 18, an operating lever 136 issuitably mounted on the shaft 125 in a cutaway portion of a section 137of the hub 130. Thus the operating lever 136 is rotatable freelyon theshaft 125. It has a portion 138, FIGURE 21, which is arranged to engagea shoulder 139 on the section 137 of the hub 130. The result is that, onrotation of the operating lever 136 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in FIGURE 21, the hub 130 is rotated in a corresponding directionto rotate the lever 124 and apply a tension force to the release linkrod 121. In the manner described previously the first trip lever 95 isthereby rotated to release the hand brake mechanism 10. At its lower endthe operating lever 136 is connected by a pin 140 to a clevis 141 whichis secured to one end of a side operated rod 142 which is long enough toextend to the side of the railway car in a position where the brake manstanding on the ground can pull it to effect release of the hand brakemechanism 10.

For operating the release mechanism from the other side of the caranother side operated rod 143, FIGURES 18, 19 and 21, is provided. It isconnected by a clevis 144 and a pin 145 to an operating lever 146 whichis journaled at 147 on the plate 126. A detent 148 on the operatinglever 146 engages an arm 149 which extends radially from the hub 130.When the side operated rod 143 has a tension force applied thereto by abrake man at the corresponding side of the railway car, the operatinglever 146 is rotated in a clockwise direction to effect rotation ofthearm'1'49, hub 130 and lever 124 in the opposite direction to apply atension force to the release link rod 121. As before, the first triplever 95 is rotated to effect the quick release of the hand brakemechanism 10. A handle 150, FIGURE 19, extends radially from the outerend of the side operated rod 143 to facilitate grasping it by the brakeman. It will be understood that a similar handle is provided a'ttheouter end of the side operated rod 142.

As pointed out, the hand brake mechanism can be released from threelocations independently of each other. The construction of the secondtrip lever 103 is such that it remains in the horizontal position shownin FIG- URE 1 while the first trip lever 95 is being rotated to releaseposition by either the side operated rod 142 or the side operated rod143. When the hand brake mechanism 10 is released by operation of thesecond trip lever 103 by a brake man standing on the platform 116, whilethe first trip lever 95 rotates, as described, and the release link rod121 moves downwardly, no movement of either of the 'side operated rods142 or 143 takes place This is due to the fact that the operating lever136 has a lost motion connection with the hub 130 and also due to thefact that the arm 149 moves away from the detent 148 on theoperating'level 146. It is because of the connections of the operatinglevers 136 and 146 to the hub 130' that operation of one of'the sideoperated rods 142, .for example, does not effect any movement of theother side operated rod 143 and vice versa.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shownin the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of: a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a bearing section at one end and a hand wheel receiving sectionat the other end, a ratchet wheel intermediate the ends of said shaftand rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel tohold the same against reverse rotation, a pinion freely rotatablymounted on said bearing section of said shaft and engaging said maingear wheel, means providing a disengageable driving connection betweensaid pinion andsaid ratchet wheel whereby said main gear wheel isprevented from rotating in a brake releasing direction, and means forcompletely disengaging said driving connection between said pinion andsaid ratchet wheel to permit said pinion to rotate freely and releasesaid main gear wheel for rotation in a brake releasing direction.

2. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of: a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a bearing section at one end and ahand wheel receiving section atthe other and rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperating with said ratchetwheel to hold the same against reverse rotation, a pinion freelyrotatably mounted on said bearingsection of said shaft and engaging saidmain gear wheel, a radially extending flange splined on said pinion androtatable therewith and movable lengthwise thereof, means providing adisengageable driving connection between said flange and said ratchetwheel, and means for moving said flange along said pinion to disengagesaid driving connection between it and said ratchet wheel to permit saidpinion and flange to rotate freely and release said main gear wheel forrotation in a brake releasing direction.

4. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of; a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a bearing section at one end and a hand wheel receiving sectionat the other end, a ratchet wheel intermediate the ends of said shaftand rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel tohold the same against reverse rotation, a pinion freely rotatablymounted on said bearing section of said shaft and engaging said maingear wheel, said pinion having thereon a radially extending flangerotatable conjointly therewith, means providing a disengageable drivingconnection between said flange and said ratchet wheel, rotatably mountedtrip bar means cooperating with said flange for moving it to disengagesaid driving connection with said ratchet wheel to permit said pinion torotate freely and release said main gear wheel for rotation in a brakereleasing direction, and rotatably mounted trip cam means cooperatingwith said trip bar means to rotate the same for shifting said flange asaforesaid.

5. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of: a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a bearing section at one end and a hand wheel receiving sectionat the other end, a ratchet wheel intermediate the ends of said shaftand rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel tohold the same against reverse rotation, a pinion freely rotatablymounted on said bearing section of said shaft and engaging said maingear wheel, said pinion having thereon a radially extending flangerotatable oonjointly therewith, means providing a disengageable drivingconnection between said flange and said ratchet wheel, rotatably mountedtrip bar means cooperating with said flange for moving it to disengagesaid driving connection with said ratchet. wheel to permit said pinionto rotate freely and release said main gear wheel for rotation ;in'.abrake releasing direction, rotatably end, a ratchet wheel intermediatethe ends of said shaft and rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperatingwithsaid ratchet wheel to hold the sameagainst reverse rotation,

a pinion freely rotatably mounted on said bearing section of said shaftand engaging said main gear wheel, said pinion having thereon a radiallyextending flange rotatable conjointly therewith, means providing adisengageable driving connection between said flange and said ratchetwheel, and means for completely disengaging said driving connectionbetween said flange and said ratchet wheel to permit said pinion andflange thereon to rotate freely and release said main gear wheelfforrotation in a brake re leasing direction. I

3. In ahand brake mechanism, the cornbinationfwith, a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of:

a rotatable hand wheel shaft having a bearing section at one end and ahand wheel receiving section at the other end, a ratchet wheelintermediate thei'ends of said shaft mounted trip cam meanscooperating'with said trip bar means to rotate the same for shiftingsaid flange as aforesaid, and an armon said trip cam means arranged andadapted to overlie said flange and prevent shifting thereof out ofoperative connection with said ratchet wheel when said tn'p cam meansoccupies its non-operated position.

a' rotatable hand wheel shaft having a bearing section at one end and ahand wheel receivingsection at the other end, a ratchet wheelintermediate the ends of said shaft and rotatable therewith, a pawlcooperating with said ratchet wheel to hold the same against reverserotation, a pinion freely rotatably mounted on said bearing section ofsaid shaft and engaging said main gear wheel, said pinion having thereona radially extending flange rotatable conjointly therewith,means-providing a disengageable driving connection between said flangeand said ratchet wheel, rotatably mounted trip bar means cooperatingwith said flange for moving it to disengage said driving connection withsaid ratchet wheel to permit said pinion to rotatefreely and releasesaid main gear wheel for rotation in'a brake releasing direction,rotatably mounted trip cam means cooperating' with said tripbar means torotate the {same-for shifting said flange as aforesaid, and first andsecond trip leverson said trip cam means for operating the same torotate said trip bar'means and move said 6. In a hand brake mechanism,the combination with r a rotary chain Winding drum and a main gear wheelof:

flange as aforesaid, said first trip lever being connected to said tripcam means for conjoint movement therewith, said second trip lever beingrotatable on said trip cam means and operable through said first triplever to operate said trip cam means.

7. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear Wheel of a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a bearing section at one end and a hand wheel receiving sectionat the other end, a ratchet wheel intermediate the ends of said shaftand rotatable therewith, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel tohold the same against reverse rotation,

a pinion freely rotatably mounted on said bearing section of said shaftand engaging said main gear wheel, said pinion having thereon a radiallyextending flange rotatable conjointly therewith, means providing adisengageable driving connection between said flange and said ratchetwheel, rotatably mounted trip bar means cooperating with said flange formoving it to disengage said driving connection with said ratchet wheelto permit said pinion to rotate freely and release said main gear wheelfor rotation in a brake releasing direction, rotatably mounted trip cammeans cooperating with said trip bar means to rotate the same forshifting said flange as aforesaid, first and second trip levers on saidtrip cam means for operating the same to rotate said trip bar means andmove said flange as aforesaid, said first trip lever being connected tosaid trip cam means for conjoint movement therewith, said second triplever being rotatable on said trip cam means and operable through saidfirst trip lever to operate said trip cam means, release means remotefrom said hand brake mechanism for releasing said main gear wheel forrotation in a brake releasing direction, and a link between said releasemeans and said first trip lever.

8. A hand brake mechanism for mounting adjacent the top of a railwayhouse car and including, a rotary chain winding drum and a main gearwheel, a rotatable hand wheel shaft having a pinion at one end meshingwith said main gear wheel and a hand wheel at the other end for rotatingsaid shaft and pinion to wind a chain on said drum to apply the brakes,ratchet means cooperating with shaft to prevent rotation of said maingear wheel in a brake releasing direction, brake release means on saidhand brake mechanism at the top of the car for releasing said main gearwheel from said ratchet means to rotate in a brake releasing direction,release means for mounting adjacent the bottom of the car for releasingsaid main gear wheel from said ratchet means independently of said brakerelease means on said hand brake mechanism at the top of the car, andmeans operatively interconnecting said release means at the bottom ofthe car with said hand brake mechanism.

9. A hand brake mechanism for mounting adjacent the top of a railwayhouse car and including, a rotary chain winding drum and a main gearwheel, a rotatable hand wheel shaft having a pinion at one end meshingwith said 7 main gear wheel and a hand wheel at the other end forrotating said shaft and pinion to wind a chain on said drum to apply thebrakes, ratchet means cooperating with shaft to prevent rotation of saidmain gear wheel in a brake releasing direction, brake release means onsaid hand brake mechanism at the top of the car for releasing said maingear wheel from said ratchet means to rotate in a brake releasingdirection, a pair of independently operable release means for mountingadjacent the bottom of the car and operable from opposite sides thereoffor releasing said main gear wheel from said ratchet means independentlyof said brake release means on said hand brake mechanism at the top ofthe car, and a link common to said pair of release means interconnectingthe same with said hand brake mechanism.

10. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of:

a rotatable hand wheel shaft having a reduced diameter.

section at one'end, an enlarged externally threaded section adjacentthereto, a hand wheel receiving section at the other end, and anintegral brake flange between said threaded section and said hand wheelreceiving section; a pinion freely rotatably mounted on said reduceddiameter section and engaging said main gear wheel, a radially extendingflange splined on said pinion and rotatable therewith and movablelengthwise thereof, an internally threaded pressure nut separate anddistinct from said pinion, said pressure nut being rotatable on saidthreaded section and having a laterally extending integral hub and anannular portion having a brake face, normally engaged lug and slot meanson said flange on said pinion and on said pressure nut to provideconjoint rotation thereof, a ratchet wheel journaled on said hub havingbrake faces on opposite sides facing said brake faces on said brakeflange and on said annular portion of said pressure nut respectively,means cooperating with said ratchet wheel and preventing reverserotation thereof, and means for moving said flange on said pinion awayfrom said pressure nut to disengage said lug and slot means and permitsaid pinion to rotate freely and release said main gear wheel forrotation in a brake releasing direction.

11. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of:

a rotatable hand wheel shaft having a reduced diameter section at oneend, an enlarged externally threaded section adjacent thereto, a handwheel receiving section at the other end, and an integral brake flangebetween said threaded section and said hand wheel receiving section; apinion freely rotatably mounted on said reduced diameter section andengaging said main gear wheel, a radially extending flange splined onsaid pinion and rotatable therewith and movable lengthwise thereof, aninternally threaded pressure nut separate and distinct from said pinion,said pressure nut being rotatable on said threaded section and having alaterally extending integral hub and an annular portion having a brakeface, normally engaged lug and slot means on said flange on said pinionand on said pressure nut to provide conjoint rotation thereof, a ratchetwheel journaled on said hub having brake faces on opposite sides facingsaid brake faces on said ratchet wheel and on said annular portion ofsaid pressure nut respectively, means cooperating with said ratchetwheel and preventing reverse rotation thereof, rotatably mounted tripbar means cooperating with said flange on said pinion for moving it awayfrom said pressure nut to disengage said lug and slot means and permitsaid pinion to rotate freely and release said main gear Wheel forrotation in a brake releasing direction, and rotatably mounted trip cammeans cooperating with said trip bar means to rotate the same forshifting said flange as aforesaid.

12. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum and a main gear wheel of: a rotatable hand wheel shafthaving a reduced diameter section at one end, an enlarged externallythreaded section adjacent thereto, a hand wheel receiving section at theother end, and an integral brake flange between said threaded sectionand said hand wheel receiving section; a pinion freely rotatably mountedon said reduced diameter section and engaging said main gear wheel, aradially extending flange splined on said pinion and rotatable therewithand movable lengthwise thereof, an internally threaded pressure nutseparate and distinct from said pinion, said pressure nut beingrotatable on said threaded section and having a laterally extendingintegral hub and an annular portion having a brake face, normallyengaged lug and slot means on said flange on said pinion and on saidpressure nut to provide conjoint rotation thereof, a ratchet Wheeljournaled on said hub having brake faces on opposite sides facing saidbrake faces on said brake flange and on said annular portion of saidpressure nut respectively, means cooperating with said ratchet wheel andpreventing reverse rotation thereof,

rotatably mounted trip bar means cooperating with said flange on saidpinion for moving it away from said pressure nut to disengage said lugand slot means and permit said pinion to rotate freely and release saidmain gear wheel for rotation in a brake releasing direction,rotatapinion as aforesaid, said first trip lever being connected to saidtrip cam means for conjoint movement therewith, said second trip leverbeing rotatable on said trip cam means and operable through said firsttrip lever to operate said trip cam means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,982,016 Olander Nov. 27, 1934 2,071,269 Bartsch Feb. 16, 19372,112,235 Camp Mar. 29, 1938 2,905,292 Bretz Sept. 22, 1959

